Amusement Parks

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the health and safety laws controlling amusement and theme parks are the responsibility of local authorities.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The responsibility for enforcing health and safety legislation at amusement and theme parks falls generally to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Local authorities will have some responsibility for aspects of health and safety, such as in retail and catering premises within the park, but not for the safety of fairground rides and associated hazards.
	HSE and local authorities work together to ensure that, where there is shared enforcement responsibility within premises, there is effective co-operation. HSE has run several seminars on fairground safety to develop understanding and co-ordination of activity between HSE and local authority inspectors.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much the renaming of the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will cost; and whether they will provide a breakdown of costs.

Baroness Andrews: The department will bear down on the necessary costs arising from the establishment of the Department for Communities and Local Government and at all times will look to achieve best value for money for the complete exercise. Where appropriate the new department will continue to use existing Office of the Deputy Prime Minister branded materials while these stocks last.
	There will be no additional public expenditure as a consequence of the change of departmental name. Any costs will be met from existing budgets. A budget of £8,000 to £12,000 has been allocated for this purpose from the Department for Communities and Local Government's corporate communication budget. The following amounts have so far been committed from this budget:
	approximately £2,200 for the design, production and introduction of a departmental logotype;
	approximately £5,000 for modifications to buildings and furnishings;
	approximately £2,500 for stationery; and
	£600 for online media design.
	The remainder of the budget will be used for implementation over time.

Government Departments

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will reconsider the case for a department of justice.

Baroness Amos: There are no plans to create a department of justice.

Government Departments: Fixed Penalty Notices

Viscount Goschen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For the past 12 months for which figures are available, what was the total number of fixed penalty notices issued by government departments, agencies and contractors; and what was the total amount of fines and charges raised.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The total number of fixed penalty notices issued by government departments, agencies and contractors together with the total amount of fines and charges raised for the past 12 months could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Health: Zoonoses

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many human illnesses occur each year from zoonotic diseases spread by imported animals; and what is their estimate of the number of days of work lost through such illnesses each year; and
	How much money is spent by the National Health Service each year treating conditions that may have been contracted from imported animals.

Lord Warner: The information requested is not available.
	Information on zoonotic diseases reported in the UK is published in the Zoonoses Report United Kingdom and this is published at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/reports.htm. Zoonoses that may be transmitted from animals to man include psittacosis, which can be transmitted from birds, and salmonellosis, which can be spread from reptiles. These diseases can also be transmitted through routes other than imported animals and no distinction is made in the reporting of these diseases.

Hepatolgy

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they have given to the findings and conclusions of A Matter of Choice, published by the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group; and whether they will respond to this publication.

Lord Warner: The All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group's report on hepatitis C services in England indicates that around two-thirds of the primary care trusts that responded are taking steps to implement the Hepatitis C Action Plan for England, and that the majority of National Health Service hospital trusts that responded did not report significant delays for patients waiting treatment.
	The results of the survey are a useful focus for discussion about the commissioning and provision of services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C by local NHS organisations.

Home Office

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 May (WA 63), whether the report expected before the Summer Recess 2006 about the Home Office review will deal with the department's involvement in the issues, reported in recent weeks, concerning illegal immigration, asylum seekers, probation, extradition and deportation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office capability review, to which my earlier answer referred, is considering the department's leadership, strategy and delivery capabilities. In relation to the wider issues mentioned by the noble Lord, I refer him to the Home Secretary's Written Statement on 23 May, Official Report, col. WS 41.

Immigration: Deportation

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give special consideration to the case for continued residence of Mr Mouloud Titough (Home Office reference: T248-717).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office (Immigration and Nationality Directorate) is currently considering further detailed representations from Mr Titough's solicitors, following the dismissal of his appeal by the asylum and immigration tribunal. I shall write to the noble Lord once this reconsideration of Mr Titough's case has been completed.

Immigration: Irregular Migrants

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the publication by the Institute for Public Policy Research, Irregular Migration in the United Kingdom, and, in particular, to the estimate that the forced deportation of all irregular migrants could cost the taxpayer some £4.7 billion while the regularising of work status could net some £1 billion for HM Treasury.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The figures provided in the Institute for Public Policy Research's paper are questionable and must be treated with caution.

Immigration: Mustapha Abdulhusein Ebrahim

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 May (WA 54) and having regard to paragraph 4.72(3) of the Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords, why they will not publish in the Official Report the statement submitted by the chief caseworker for nationality casework in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office to the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The reason for non-disclosure has been reviewed and it is agreed that the paragraphs may be published. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Baroness Turner of Camden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made representations to the Government of Iran about the reported recent execution of some 250 people, many of them minors; and, if so, with what result.

Lord Triesman: We have serious concerns regarding the Iranian authorities' use of the death penalty. Worryingly, the number of executions reported in 2006 has risen compared to this time last year. We receive numerous reports of executions carried out in public. Growing numbers of juvenile offenders have been sentenced to death and in some cases executed.
	We have repeatedly made representations to the Iranian authorities over the use of the death penalty. On 5 May 2006, the EU issued a statement in which it expressed its,
	"serious concern about the general increase in executions in Iran".
	The full text of the statement can be found on the following website: www.eu2006.at/en/News/CFSP–Statements/May/0505Iran1.html.
	During our presidency of the EU in 2005, we pressed the Iranian authorities on seven occasions on death penalty-related concerns. In July 2005, the EU issued a public statement recalling the EU's,
	"long-held position that capital punishment may not, in any circumstances, be imposed on persons below 18 years of age at the time of the commission of their crime".
	The full text of the statement can be found on the following website: www.eu2005.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&:cid=1115146994806&&=KArticle&aid=1119530173570.
	Such punishments are in contravention of Iran's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The EU expressed its hope that Iran would adopt a law abolishing all lashings and executions for crimes committed by those under the age of 18. It called on Iran to implement a moratorium until that time.
	We have also raised death penalty concerns in other fora. In December 2005, all EU member states co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution expressed serious concern at,
	"public executions including multiple public executions and, on a large scale, other executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognised safeguards",
	and deplored,
	"the execution of persons who were below 18 years of age at the time their offence was committed".
	On 13 May, Iran carried out the first execution of a juvenile in 2006. Two males aged 17 and 20 were hanged barely a month after the crime they are alleged to have carried out was committed. We expressed our concern to the Iranian chargé d'affaires in London prior to the execution. The EU presidency raised this case locally with the Iranian authorities and will make further representations later this week.

Iran: Religious Freedom

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of Iran about the large number of articles in the official Iranian press over the past six months aimed at encouraging persecution of members of the Baha'i faith.

Lord Triesman: Certain Iranian newspapers have run a series of articles in recent months aimed at defaming the Baha'i faith. This is part of a general pattern of increasing intimidation of Iran's Baha'i minority. We continue to have serious concerns about its situation and have received numerous reports of discrimination.
	Ministers and officials have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to address the intimidation and discrimination suffered by Iranian Baha'is. At our suggestion, the EU presidency did so on 31 January and on 11 April. The EU did so again most recently on 29 May. On 10 April, EU Foreign Ministers underlined their,
	"continued concerns about the human rights situation in Iran, in particular regarding the situation of Baha'is".
	We have also taken action at the UN. We were pleased that all EU countries co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution on human rights in Iran in December last year. This expressed serious concern at, inter alia,
	"the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Baha'is, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits".
	We expect Iran to uphold freedom of religion and belief in accordance with its international obligations under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Palestine: Medical Services

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect the promised new and replacement medical supplies from the European Union and the United States to reach the West Bank and Gaza.

Baroness Amos: On May 9, the quartet—the European Union (EU), United States, United Nations and Russia—expressed its willingness to endorse a temporary international mechanism for direct delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people. The EU is working urgently to develop such a mechanism, which, as a matter of priority, will be aimed at basic needs including health services. The UK Government are working closely with the European Commission to help to establish the mechanism as soon as possible.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Standards Board for England has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Baroness Andrews: There have been no such occasions.

Prime Minister: Meeting with President Bush

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the outcomes of the meeting between President Bush and the Prime Minister at the White House on 25 May.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister had discussions on a wide range of issues with President Bush, including on Iraq.
	I also refer the noble Lord to the press conference that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister held with President Bush on Thursday 25 May 2006. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all the foreign prisoners released under licence into the community since 1999 have complied with the conditions of their early release; and, if not, how many have failed to do so.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The requested information is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Sex Offenders: Early Release

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to continue to allow paedophiles to be eligible for early release from prison.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Under the custodial sentencing provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, implemented last year, convicted sex offenders will either receive a determinate sentence, with automatic release at the halfway point, or, if assessed as presenting a risk of harm through reoffending, an extended or indeterminate sentence. In the latter case, when the minimum custodial period has been served, offenders may apply for release on licence to the Parole Board, which must then consider their application. Offenders who have received an indeterminate sentence may remain in custody for life if necessary for reasons of public protection.
	For those sentenced under the previous arrangements, a prisoner sentenced to four years or more may apply to the Parole Board for release on licence at the halfway point, while for shorter sentences automatic halfway release applies.
	In determining whether to direct release, the Parole Board is required to conduct a thorough assessment of risk. In making its assessment, it is required to consider reports prepared by the probation service and Prison Service and, where available, other experts such as psychologists or psychiatrists. Its overriding duty is to protect the public and to prevent further reoffending.
	Prisoners who apply for early release on the home detention curfew scheme (HDC) are also subject to a careful risk assessment, undertaken by the prison governor. However, prisoners are ineligible to apply if they are subject to the notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Where such prisoners are not so subject but are nevertheless serving a sentence of imprisonment for sexual offences, they are presumed unsuitable for early release on HDC.
	There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Tuberculosis: Tests

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will continue to recommend the use of the Mantoux skin test for tuberculosis should the manufacturers of the purified protein derivative utilised in the test decide not to apply for a licence for the product.

Lord Warner: The Mantoux test remains the internationally recognised standard test for the detection of tuberculosis infection.
	The tuberculin product used in the United Kingdom is the most widely used product for Mantoux testing and is the World Health Organisation reference standard.
	There are a number of alternative tests currently under review. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will shortly issue guidance on their use.